Rotary engine.



L. BLTHOMAS.

ROTARY YENGINE. APPucmou mtu JAN. 18. 191s` Fammi Feb. 20,1917.

, I SHEETS-SHEET l.

L. Br THOMAS.

RUTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. I8, I9I i.

Patented Feb. 2o, 1917.

1 SHEETS-SHEET 2 LearB. Thor-magi; i

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/1 Q I I A wm I as my yL. B. THOMAS.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED 1AN.I8| I9II.

' Patented Feb. 20,1917.

ZSHEETS-SHEET 3.

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whbmas,

Leo

`L. B. THOMAS.

ROTARY ENGINE. n APPLIcAloN man JAN. is. n 1s.

Patenm Fel. 20, 1917.

ISHEETSQSHEET 5 j gnwfntoff Leo 5. Thon-:c1527 `L. B. THOMAS. sona'y en mf. "nkr'ucmou man mma. m6.

, Patented Feb. 20; 1917.

1 SHEETS-SHEET s.

A e 5 e l li LA l THOMAS.

ROTARY ENGINE.

` v nrucm'nou man m.1s.|s1s. `1,."116g3'78. Peeeneed Feb. 20,1917. :swans-sumarv 1.

a y, 50.2 ee

-Ill e? lli gwugfwom y iLesa. B..

imI 'liilp STATES- rATEN-T OFFICE.

LEO B. THOMAS, F PORT CHESTER, YEW- YORK.

ROTARY ENGINE. n

speoincatioii o: itters raient.

Application tiled Jaiiiiaixiy 1B, 1916. Serial No. 72,757.

To all 'whoftzt moy concern:

lie' it known that I, lLiso B. THOMAS, a citizen of the United Stzites, residing :it Port lhester, in thejeoiinty of' Westchester and Stilte of New Yiiirl, have invented `certain new und iisefiil improvernentsl 'in Rotary Engines; and I do hereby declare the following to be zi full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such us iiill enable others skilled 1n the nrt to which it uppertiiins to ineke and iise the saine.

Vo piiielit ot" eertziin'of the ivorkingpiti'ts of peiirfhereinziftei".

This invention relates to internal coiiibiis- `tion engines, and has for its object to ini prove such engines in iinumber of ways, especiiilly'in regard to providing ii pliirzil ity of compression chambers, i1 pliiriilityof" ring chambers, :in improved ineens for ignitingrthe fuel, in providing 'unii'npri'ed4 nneetions, 11s ivell as 11i rotnry piston and4 V other particulars t at will more fully i1pdii-million ofthe iirrows'; Fig, `3 is iii top phin shown iii l4`ig. 1;

li`igi` l1 is viiY iliiigriiiiiiniitiq4 sectional Ydevel- .l .i View. of the 'parts the motor, illustrating its priiieipl-esof opliig. 5 is iin end elevational'ijieivof the paii'tsshoivn i'n Fig. 1 :is seei'i troni 4the left Figs; 7, Sl mid l0 :ire cross sectional im?, SWB, SLA), :indv 1 0-l0 of `Fig. l, loolv iin"` iiiLtlie direction of theiiri-Oii's;

Fig. 'l-l is :i detiiil eleviiitioiiiil View ofthe rotor of the iii0toi'; ff

Iiig. l2ls :in i\.iil'iii,geil detiiil sectioniil view,

""i'ijtoiie of the oscillating iibiitiiie'iits. l'iiken piirtipulanly pointed I Fi 13 is a detail sectional vievv teken on the line 13--13 of Fig. 1Q;

Fig. 14 is a diagrammetio'seotionnl view.

of e modified form of the invention 'suitable for ilse es n reversible engine; and

w- 1 Iii'gs. l5, lo, 17, 18 and 19 are d-iiigljturr Patented lieb. 20, 1917.3,

matie Sectio ria-l views illustrating further modified for ins ofthe inventioni 1 designates any suitable hase, provided ,with the bearing standards 2 and 3, in which is journiiled the shaft '-1, carrying -the rotor 5 and provided at one end with a suit'- .iible pulley 3. Surrounding the rotor 5 is the stator. or casing 7 having ii-n integral end orv head 8, provided with a lng 9 adapt to engage ii. pair of simile-r lugs l0: on*

the bearing satiinderd 2, whereby rotiitionfofthe'sziid .easing 7 is prevented. The opposite endof'the .ft-ntoi'gri'` is provided with ii re movable head 11, notmally held in pleceby vii*- :iny suitable ineens, suoli :is the bolts 12.

Both of the heads 8 iind'll iire'providedfb 'Witli central ly loioz'ited openings 13 to am C oinn'iodiite the shaft 4 Vand theyr vare further i provided willi :idditioiiiil Afopenings 1-1, see" Figsn endg for thendmission ofeooling air to the Itter, :is Will, beinore lliil'ly dis` i,

closed below.

The rotor niiiy be cionstriictedinuny *i sa f the 'form of i costinghii'ving the end' Walls suitable inzin ier, but Il prefery to'iniike itin 15 and 19 andthe internally extending ribs 16, 17 andil, as will be clear from F1gsv. 2 i

and 11 of th( drawings.

Tl'iiit'isfto say?, between the end walls elliptical pisions'aboiit to loe described, {nnd earch rib is provided with deep'groov'e' such as,21 ,.22iin(1 23, sind on eziohiside"'of'ealr` deep, groovel 'each rib -is fii-ith'er` provided ivitli shellow groovesin which sire located the packing rings 211 iill :is .will lpresently appear.

eleiir froid F gs., 2 :ind 9. Y

lletiveeitfitlie end ,ivilli 15 iiridftliew'i'ih 16 v'iills 15 and 19 are inie'griilly eoniiectediijfiih the shaft .4 :ind are i'irovidedl with suitable openings 20 to permit the free?" "'cii'iiliition oiI theV cooling nii-,ull ii's willbe provide :i 'mir i of oppositel v disposed" erescentsha1 ed grooves S00 und 301. and

thereby forni. :in ellipticiil piston 2,in-V

will be clear V:Toni Fi s. 2 '6 and 1].. i 5

manner, a second elliptical piston 26 is formed integral with the ribs 16 and 17 by cutting .a pair of crescent-shaped grooves 302 and 303 between the said ribs, while similar pistons 27 and 28 are formed by pairs of crescent-shaped grooves 304 and 305 and 306 and 307, between the ribs 17 and 18 and the rib 18 and end Wall 19, respectively as shown. i

The said grooves 300, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306 and 307 are so positioned that the major or longer axis of the piston 25 is at substantially rightf angles to the correspond-v ing axis of the piston 28, While the major axis of thepislbn 26 also makes a right angle with, the major axis'of the piston 27, see Figs. 6, 7,8 'and 9. Each of the pistons 25, 26, 27 ano 28 is provided along its minor axis with a duczt or passage 30, the purpose of which is to permit the equalization of the pressure, on botp. sides of the pistons, as will 'be more fully disclosed below.

The bore of the stator 7 is preferably uniform throughout, and its surface taken in conjunction with the grooves 300 and 301 of the rotor 5 forms a pair of chambers 3'1 and 310, see Figs. 2 and 6. In like manner similar pairs of chambers 32 and 320 (see Fig. 7 33 and 330, (see Fig. 8) and 34 and 340 (see Fig. 9) lare formed by the smooth interior of the stator 7 and the pairs of crescentshaped grooves 302 and 303,- 304.

and 305, and 306 and 307, respectivelyf In other words, a pair of crescent-Shaped 35 chambers is provided for each of the pistons 25, 26, 27 "and 28, the chambers 31, 310, 34l

and 340 constituting compression chambers and the'chambers 32, 320, 33 and 330 consti- -tuting explosion` or working chambers, as

4o will appear more fully below.

'As above stated, the rib 16 of the rotor 5 is provided with lthe annular groove 21, which, as will now be clear, is located between the piston and its chambers 31.and 310, and the piston 26 and its chambers 32 and 320. Locatedin the said groove 21 is a ring member 35, and in like manner a ring member 36 is located in the groove 22 of the rib 17, While a similar ring member 37 occupies the groove 23 with which the rib 18 is provided, all as will be clear from. Fig. 2.

vided as at 40 and 41;, into two sections 42 and 43. each of which Sections extends over an arc of slightly less thai180o. The ends` of thc split 41 are preferably.tapered slightly and are adapted to be engaged by a tapered plug 44, which forces the scgn'lents 42 and 43 tightly against the bore of the stator 7. v

This forcing of the ring segments against the inner circumference 'of the said statorhas a tendency to prevent the rotation of the said segments. and lsuch rotation is further preventm'l by the plug 44 itself, which projects through an opening 47 in the said screw threaded end is normally covered by a suitable cap 46, screw threaded or otherwise secured in the opening 47 of the stator 7.

'Ihe ring segment 42 is provided with a suitable port or passage 50, extending en tirely through said segment, while its companion segmentI 43 has a similar port 51, located at a point diametrically opposite to the port 50. The said ports 50 and 51 are adapted to register at certain times with similar ports formed in the rib 16 and thereby afford communication between the chambers 3l and 32, and 310 and 320, as will be more fully hereinafter described.

The ring members 36 and 37 are of a similar construction in every respect to the ring member 35, and are provided with poris 52 and 53, and 54 and 55, respectively, adapted to register with corresponding ports formed in the ribs 17 and 18, as` will be clear from Figs. 2 and 4.

F rom the construction just disclosed it will he clear that the rings 35, 36 and 37 will at all times remain stationary p'ith the stator 7. It iwill also be obvious that the'said .rings may, if desired, be cast integral with the said casing in the form of internally projecting ribs as is shown in Fig.4 15.

At a suitable point in the rib 16, and e.\':- tending from the chamber 31 to the groove 21, I provide a port 147, see Figs. 2 and 6, while ata diametrically opposite point insaid rib andy extending from the chamber 310 to the groove 21, I provide a similar port 148.

At corresponding points on the other sidev in the ring ,member 35, and thereby ai'ord 1 direct The 'ring member 35, see Fig; 10, 1s d1 and-168, arranged in pairs in a manner 34, and 330 .and 340,

similar to the ports in the ribs 16 and l, and located approximately 90 apart, all

. as will ,presently appear 1n connection with Figs. #tand 7. 'These' said portsA 161 to l168 are adapted to register Vatpredetta-.mined `times u'ith the ports 52 and53, Carr-led by y the ring" member 3,6., and to al'l'ord communi more clearly "understood, it is said:V ThisA lSaid Yligure 1s afdevelopmentrof the rotor-5 f or 4a, fdiagrainlnatic` 4illustration of what Vthe upper' portions of the said rotor to* would appear-ii" yoneoniitted the easing 7 'and cut through the 4rotor 5 along the line 106 illustrated in Fig.' 8, andl then moved Ward the top of the ligure, around, the point 1.07 as a centerfand also movedv the lower portion of the rotor 5 downwardly and. up u'ardly-arouiid the samel pointi 107 as a center, so as tov spreadout all .of theparts into aV flat sheet, and then looked down uponv the parts, obseriingthat the sectional parts appearing iin Fig. 4 aremot'in all respects true as to form but onlyl diagrammatic illustrations of the. parts that are indicated by,

ahutments andV inlet and exhaust ports to be described and pertaining to the stator -are shown in dottedlines.

Further the Joint 107`is niarlied` 0, "andi "the pointat W ich the line 10G-severe the .rotor is marked 240,O on Fig. 1. .Y

`1,()11 the outside of the stator or casing 7 areloeated eight lugs 60, Gl, 62, 63, 6ft, 65, 66 and 67, see Figs.` 1, 3,` 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12. All of these lugs with theirassociated partsaref similar in eonstruetion and therefore the following'description ofone Will apply to all.

.ears

-' l-,i'lf.he.pistonsf2526, and each prei', vided4 at the points ofeontat between the i extremities of their major axesa-nl the bore ofI the .stator f7, f with suitable longitudinall ydisposejiih packing 75,; as 4will `he'clear.from

para *fo is likewise guided ad packed von,

.as the piston 25 -revolvesand the abutment `71 and its eoacting parts rise and falhr-.theii`f .outer surtaxe ofthe said piston.

.inglletteree 861 and 871seeFig; 8,'. whi `thosegrof-1ct.ng with piston'QS y171() and 85C, see Fig. 9.

,of thev forms illustrated, and fulcrumed 'speetively in suitable posts.l 83 y2583,rigid a; ith the 'casing `are each pr( raided- Awith anvanti friction hall .sach as` 81, the halls of the lever 82 Contact'- and J28 are @it substantially right-an l ,then vfulcrulu in their'respective- :post arried by thev abutment Q71, .ian d,283.fa 'nd ltheir ',becaixsewthe'; -foreing out of the alaltnieut the` one si( le by theperpendicular Wall 80,

7, and on the o ther side by a similar wall 800, rwhich, hov'ever, ismade removable in onder..V that the pa rtsmay be readily asseml'iled a'nilwfs disassembled. From th construction so i'ar diseloexed it 4is evident that as the piston 25 1e\"olves-t'lio abutment-"1 and its associated partswillf-'I rise and dall, oscillating about the 4pivot-'715 member 69 as a center, and in orderthat the? Said abutment may pass through the easing. 7i, the latter is provided with an openingy 71.5, which Afits and accommodates the said abut; ment, as is best shown inligs. 6 and 12.' .l't will further he clear from said figures that Y' packing 77 andthe ears 74 rof the member 7AA Will continuously remain .in Contact Witlrthe As will be readily underst'oodfrom lan inf-4 spection of the drawings two oppositelyjdisposed abutments are provided for each pis 4" ton. Tho-sc ,enacting with piston 25 I ei'ng' fi lettered71 and 840 see Fig. 6, those ceac-ting with piston 26'heing lettered 851'and 8,7() see y Fig. V7, and those eoacting with piston `l letter i, Asisbest shown inFigs. 1', 2,-3, 5,"Gi7iand- 10, of the draWings,I provide four le\=ers"' -32 85,820 and 5:16() coacting with the said eight ahutl'nents.` The said,.levers are [n'eferab f-isa, eaaana The ends if said levers 82, 85, 820v and SGU lng Witlitrhe outer surfaces of theabutmen 71 and 711),; those/of the.leVer'Sfcontat'ing With-the oil( erf surfaces of thel abutments $70 and 871.; th ose of the lever 820*contaetinge with the abut-ments 840 and850, while tho. of thelevei'f 860 Contact `With the ablltl" 851 and 861,see Figs. l, 3,6-, n7,8 a-ndf.

.It being ,remembered .tha'tthe ijpistous f- 2" one another as above .disclosefL-it clear that whenfthe` piston 25,-for exai foreesits; al; utments `71 I and S40V 'outw r'l'lf' the said abi tmentsawilliimgta 'n,;f o' wa-rdly' -the'f coaeti'ngfends off the pston2; The converse is equally truie.

.710;anfd 850 bythe piston 28, Willresult4 V`n the forcing n At'ljie ahutinents 7J andi' v- The saine ope-ratio;

holds good with regard to the pistops 26 and i 27 and their associated levers 85 and 860, and their corresponding abutments 870, 871, and 851, 861 respectively.

It follows from what has just been stated that the packings, such as 77, carried by the abutments, such as 7l, will always be main tained in contact with the surfaces of the pistons such as 25, 26, 27, and 28 and leakage will be thereby prevented. Suitable springs. such. as 81, 87, 830 and 860, 'may be. provided to take up any lost motion due to inequalities in the piston surfaces.'

Fuel is admitted to the com )ression chambers 31 and 310, see Fig. 6, irom any suitable carburetor or other mixing device through pipes 100 and 101, leading respectively through'ports 90 and 91 into chambers such as 115 and 116 under the abutment lates and 841, from whence it is sucked) as needed by the receding sides of the piston 25 through ports 139 and 14() in thelcasing 7 into the said chambers 31 and 310. In a like manner fuel is sucked into the compression chambers 31 and 340 by the piston 28 through the-ports 141 and 142 rom the chambers 117 and 118. which are supplied from the carhlureter bythe pipes 102 andu103, respectivelys Figs. 1, 3 and 9. The burnt gases in the explosion chambers 32 and 320 'are exhausted respectively through ports A143 and 144, chambers 119 and 120 and pipes 104 and 105, see Figs. 1, 5 and 7, while the exhaust from the explo' sion chambers 33 and 330 is through lports 145 and 146, chambrsi121 and 122 and pipes 108 and 109, respectively, see 'Figs 1, 5 and 8." i

After the initial explosion the ignition of the compressed gas is entirely automatic, as will be more fully explained below, butin' order to secure such an initial explosion I.

provide a suitable ignition means such as 155, Fig. 7, adapted Vto proJect a flame in close proximity to a port or opening 156 in` the casing 7. The said poi't 156 is located beneath a hood or shield '1560 and is adapted to be closed by a suitable vgl ve 157.

The operation of the en .ne will be clear from the foregoing but may be briefly summarized as follows ,Supposing the parts to be in the positionsE illustrated in Figs.2, 4, 6, 7l 8, 9 and 10 and that a fuel mixture is being supplied-by a carbureter to the chambers'115, 116, 117 and 118 through the pipes 100,101, 102 and 1 03 respectively, such fuel mixture will 'pass through the ports 139 and 14:0 and will fill the portionsof the chambers 31 and 310, see Fig. 6 which lie respectively betweenV the abutments 71 and 840 and the extremities 250 and 251 of the piston 25.

The vrotor 5 now being revolved by hand in the direction indicated by the arrow in spectively and will suck additional fuel into the. chambers 31 and 310. This will continuc until the extremities 250 and 251 reach the abutments 840 and 71 res ectively, when the chambers 31 and 310 wil be filled with gas at approximately atmospheric pressure.

As soon as the extremities 250'and 251 of the piston 25 respectively pass the said abutments 840 and 71, the said extremities will begin to compress the gas trapped in the chambers 310 and 31 against the respective abutments and such compression Will continue until'the parts have reached a position approximately 180" from that illustrated in Fig. 6. That is to say, the extremities 250 and 251 will have reached a position exactly reversed from that shown in l said figure. y

At this point the pairof ports 147 and 150 will register with the ort 51 of the ring member 35 and the pair o ports 148 and 152 will register with the port 50 of said ring pression at or a quarter revolution, be-V hind the p ston v25, and it discharges its compressed gs through the ports 54, 55, 175,175, 177 and 178 into the explosion chambers 33 and. 330 associated with the piston see Fig. i.

The firing of the charges of compressed gas in the explosion-chambers is accoraplished as follows Referring to Figs. 4, 7 and 8 and assuming for the salie of iclearness that the rotor, instead of having. been rotated only 180O as above described, has made a complete revolution of 360 amLhas thus brought the parts back to the positions illustrated in the lot said figures, the extremity v260 ofthe piston 26 will be about to uncover the firing port at'the time lies between the extremity 260 and the abutmentf270.V The expanding gases resulting fr m' the explosion of the compressed fueI'just described will act;V against the abutment 870 and upon the piston 26,

itjwiujbeiear that just before 1% f* f erfgenaamaithraughal and will revolve `the latter in a counterelockwise direction', as indicated by the are row in Fig." 7. V Tlievalve 157, controlling the firing port 5 15.6 now closes and may be secured in such position b 1 any" suitable means, not'shown, in order t lat noe of the -force of the suc'- lneeding explosions will be lost. The llame l of the ignition means 155 may also be ex? tingui'shed or reduced'to a Apilot lig-ht, since after the initial explosion, the ignitionof the compressed gases .is automatically carried on entirely within the casing 7, as'lW'ill nonr beV disclosed.. A It being remembered that the chambers 32 and 320 Were simultaneously charged With-compressed gas, upon an explosion taki f ing place in the chamber 32, 'the piston 26 will be rotated as abovedescribed, until the endsleBO'and 431 of the passage-"30 .have passed the abutments 870 and 851, respec tively. will then pass through the said passage 30, and explode the fresh ga's in the'cham'ber 25.f 320, `thus imparting an additional im Vulse to. the piston 26. Much of the forcee this in italexplosion in the cha'nber320 will of .coursbe'lst due to the t. that the" res# siie `of the inl the said chamber een.. greatly.loyirered'by the rotation fof the piston 26j such initial explosins,however, [the as in the` chambers 32 and` 320 will not be fred Vthroughsaid passage 30, but will .y b eLfred simultaneously at the point of its. ,35;.7gi'1'eatest compression th rough `other passages,

afs will presently appear.

Upon continued'rotation 'of the piston 26, thepairsof. ports 161 ajn`d165 and 1632x1111 `1 67 \yil1 respectively,r register With'the ports 40"v 5 nd `52 ofthe ring meinberrsee Fig. 4 heren on. lrsinall portion of the Ybini-nt .-ln.-`tiiechambers'32 and 320"Wrill Ypass -lrough the said registering" ports to the embers fand 330', respectively. Thesaid i'tges '1l theirl simultaneously eX- es of fr andfl'( re 'Ster With the ppi; 5

176; 5,4'a'ndtothe chamber f1Sii/l0. stzbetbsefmiSSiOnOf 'the 110@ se .S unibet-1320: hrough the po The -burnt gases in. the chamber- '32 piston 27, thr )ugh the`exhaust ports 145 and lfl'into theY chambers121 and 122 and the ber '33 t ronghthe 4movable port 502 'and the ste'tionar; r port f'503, .iyl iile` communicaftin .between the chambers.1361 and 34 is afa, "fordedbyfthe similar orts' 5051 and 505'.

' In addition to the a ove'passages or ports,4

177, 551ml 175 from the chamber 34o, jaa 65 before the'bu cnt gases from the .chamber'32 are admittedY to the said chamber 33 through theports 161. 53 'and 165.

It will thu; be seen that after theinitial explosions `in the chambers 32 and 320, all 70 'ignitions tek; place at approximately the maximum cor lpression of the fuel, Which re suits in alrigli efficiency of operation.

The subsequent ignition ofthe gas in the chambers 32 :.nd 320 is accomplished in su'bstantially th( reverse ,Way lfrom'that. disclosed in connection with the chambers 325 j and330. Th at `is to say, the chambers 32. and 320 arenow fired by portions of the hot gases from clrainbers 33 and 330 when theI 80 pairs of port=i162 and 166 and 164i and 168 register with "the ports 53 andv 52. The

interfiringbtween the explosion chambers will of course continue as long as fuel is supplied by the carbureter.

The burnt gases'in the chamber 32 will,

.. of course, Continue to expand' until the ex? in the chamber 320 W'ili b eforced through -the port 143 l; y the advancing extremity 260,

into the chanber 119 and exhaust pipe 104:.l

In like manner the. burnt gases in the chambers 33 andV 330 will be forced by the extremities 2'0 'and' 271 yrespectively of the exhaust pipes 108 and 109.

The form of the. invention illustrated in,

Figs. Ito- 13 is ca-pableof rotation inone y 'shown in Fig 14. In such modi'iica'tionthe shA g'a's- -W Vich hasvf he said chambers *33 and-1.

chamber'l is adapted to 'communicate at 110 l Vthrough the moyablejport 500 andthestationary port 501. .The charnbef32 is like- Wise ada teli to communicate with the cham!" a.. passage 506 is provided in th,e,cas1ng-7,` 120 adapted to register at predetermined times Y with ports 50?,carried by the rib 16,.and 508 Vcarried byl the rib 18, and to thus aord .co nnnunicaticn .between the chambers l31 andfi. A suitable valve 509is providedto 1215 contr ol the `passages 506 and 503, Softhat lwhen oneof said' passages is open 'the ot becl' the ports 59. and 53 coact with the ports 161.

-to 168, above described in connection with Figs. 1 to 13. In like manner there is a passage similar to503 d iametrically opposite thereto and a valve similar to the valve 509 to control the said last mentioned passages similar to 503 and 500. 1

When the valves such as 509 areso turned as to open the passages 503 and to close the passages 506, the operation of the motor will be the same as was above disclosed in con n'ection with Figs. 1 to'13. That is to say thechambers 31 and 34 will operate as com pression chambers and the chambers 32 and 33 will operate as explosion chambers, the gas charges in the said explosion chambers being fired back and forth .between the said chambers through the ports 502 and 503.

On the other hand,- When the valves such as 509 are so turned as to close the passages 503 and to open the passages 506', the chambers 32 and33 will become compression chambers and the chambers 31 and 34: will become explosion chambers, firing -back and forth through the passages 500 and ports 507 and 508.

It will ofcourse be understood that a suitable valve mechanism must be provided to control the set of fuel supply pipes and that a similar mechanism should be prol vided to control the set of exhaust pipes, so thatvthe said sets of pipes may be alternately Any suitablevalve mechanism may be used,

connected at will with either the vchambers 31 and 34 or with the chambers 32 and 33.

however, and as such mechanism forms no part of the present invention it has not been illustrated.

When the chambers 31 and 34 are used as explosion chambers, asabove stated, the direction of the rotation of the"y rotor will be reversed, due' to the fact the pistons coacting with the said chambers occupy a reversed position relative to their respective abutments as compared to the pistolhs keoatting 'figures with the chambers 32 aud 33, see Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9. Further, the abutments of the said chambers lil-.and 3-1, are themselves reversed as compared to thelabutments of the chambers and 33, as will be clear from the said In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 15 th'ring members 35, 36 and 37 of the stator, instead of being made separate and removable, are cast integral with the said stator, and are provided with cooling spaces 515 for the circulation'of cooling air.

In Fig. 16 the ring member is shown as.

being provided with a groove517 adapted to receive a flange 518 with which the rotor 5 is provided, while in Fig. 17 both the rotor and thestator are provided with a single contacting flange 520 and 521 respectively carrying the registering ports. In Figs. 18l` and 19 the bore of the stator is uniform and! said. stator is provided with grooves 525 adapted to receive the flanges orribs 526 with which the rotor is provided.

In all the forms shown in Figs. 15, 16, 17 18 and 19 it will of course be necessary to make'the stator 7 in two parts and to secure the same together after the rotor has beenv y as the arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention and therefore I do not wish to be limited to the above disclosure except as Vmay be required by the claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a gas .engine thecombination ofa stator, a rotor having a plurality of ribs provided lwith recesses;v packing material carried by said ribs on each side of said recesses; crescent shaped cut-away portions forming elliptical pistons between said ribs; and stationary rings associated with the .interior of said stator and fitting said recesses, each of said stationary rings being provided withV a pair of diametrically disposed vports, and each rib being .provided with a pai-r of diametrically disposed ports on each side of its corresponding ring adapted to register simultaneously at predetermined times with said first named-ports, substantially astdescribed.

2. In a. gas engine the combination of a stator; a. rotor having a plurality of annular ribs provided with annular recesses; stationary rings provided with diametrically disposed passages fitting said recesses; each of said ribs also provided with ports on each 4side of each ring adapted to simultaneously register with said passages at predetermined intervals; said rotor provided with angularly displaced pairsof crescent shaped cutaway portions located 'between-v said ribs to form` angularly displacedelliptical pistons;l

and apair of pivotally niounted abutments adapted to fit each pistonhand pair of cutaway portions, substantially as described.

3. In a gas engine the combination of a stator;` a rotor having a pluralityfof annular gibs provided with annular recesses; and:

with a packingring on each side of. .each

recess; ystationair-'y rings` provided witli ;1ia- 7 metrically disposed passages fitting sa d cesses; said ribs also provided ywith on each-side of said rings, adapted to sn'niil-r disposed passages at predetermined? intertaneously register with said diametrically 'l valsfsaid rotor provided with angularly displaced pairs of crescent shaped cutaway jioigt'ioiis located between said ribs to forni z iiigiilarlydisplaced'elliptical pistons: iiicaus tol l llniit fuel to some of said cutaway pormeans yfor exhaustingburnt gases 'ti'o from the 'other cutaway portions; and a pair sf st'a iallv as described.

l'n'a gas'en'gine the combination of a ioi'idcd with orifices; a rotor having apliiiality of angularly displaced elliptical pistons; said rotor providedvwith packing iffin'gs"` and :in annular recess between each p aiiff of pistons; a pair of pivoted abut` t, i, in nts rirircach piston passing` through said o iii'cesand normally contacting WitliopA pfpfsite ysides of said. pistons; spring cont' fed levers governing said abutinents in stationary rings coacting with said and' located in each annular recess i: betueen'eacli pair of pistons, thejparts i; `form 'a compression chamber' duplicate pair of pistons; a

i scribed.

`each ring; a pair forming a pair of elliptical chambers associated witheach piston and pair of abutinents; and means comprising diametrieally 4 disposedpassages through said rings and tl I{, h' said ribs for pe' vedete'ririined, time'sto-fld from one p ir ,off chainber's'to an adjacent pairof c iambe'rs;substantially as described..`

In a lgas engine the` Combination of a- I stator; arotoiiprovided with a pair'` of an# niilar'fribs having annular recesses; a stationary` `packing' ring ineacli recess; a`pasatwdiainetrically opposite points in said ring; lagpair of ports in each rb adapted .to 4

msA iiltaneouslyregister with eachpassage; a pairlof angularly disposed pistons rigid `Vthv said rotor;'a pair of pivoted abutnientsioreach piston; the parts adapted to t'pnsaa.'"duplicate pair 'of annular ribs; .a duplicate pair of abutment's; said duplicate parts form'- ing. an'explosionchamber for each of said.

lastnamed pistons; a spring controlled lever for governing said aliutmentsninpairs; and

' means for exhausting burntsases from said explosion chambers;v substantially' as' de- ".6. In an explosive engine `"the combina* tion of a stator; a rotor provided with a plurality of annulairibs having annular recesses; stationary rings in said recesses;

Iangggulafrly displaced pistons associated with saidiribs; a pair ofv pivoted abutmentsassociated with each piston; a spring controlled;J lever for governing said abu'tinents in pairs;D diametrically disposed passages through of ports carried by each rib adapted to simultaneously communicate .with each passage; theparts being' sodisposed as to form a plurality oi' explosion chambers; a'plurality of compressionchamjbers; communicating means adapted tofeed ,pivotcd abutiiicnts for cach piston, subl cxhflil ting the' )urn-t gasesfrpm' all of said timesfto iioiy fri for each. pisy g fiicl 'ata'predrterniiiied time from one of said compression chambers -towone pf said explosion chambers; adaptedA to feel fuel mined time fro ind sion chambers 'no chambers at another predeter- `anotlier of said compres-l another of said explosion means for firing the fed fuel communicating meansy one of said explosion Vcliambersj'ata`prede-- termined time; uieansfor firing the' fed fuel from another oi l an other;I

predete rinilied time; andl means' foi.

said explosion chambers at' PQDlfS/lion cli-an' bers; substantially als; Q I Y scribed.

7. In a stator p v ing a. plurality of angiilarly displacedelliptical pistons; a pair ofaibiitinents foreacli piston passing through said orifices4 and normally contacting with opposite sides; of said. pistons; levers controlling the movements of said al; utnients in pairs; a stationary ring coactiig with said stator and ilo-" pair ot' pistons, the partsV catednbetween e: cli

forming` a, pair of chambers associated `with each piston and pair of abutments; and

means permitti ig gas V at predetermined.

im one pairof chambers to a of, chambers, substantially. 8..:,In a gas engine the combination of.

an; adjacent Ipail as described, Y

alstator; .a roto in said stator; a pair of angularly displa rotor; a pair of abutments for. each of said pistons; apair of levers joining-said.abut-y ments in pairs, the parts beingso disposed as to form a paii' of compression chambers; means for admi ting fuel to saidcompression chambers; u second pair of angularly ldisposed pistons, the parts beingrso; disposed as to form a' piir-of explosion chambers associated withreach of fromEv said explos von chambers; -substantially asdescribed.y

9:11am# gas-en giiidtheloombination;of a 'g sta-tor; afrotor i'rsaid staton;-a pair oangas eiginetliecoinbination of'za" rovided with orifices; a rotor'liaif" :ed pistons rigid withv said ioo v p said lastinamed pistons; andmeans for exhausting burnt 'gases gularly Vdisplaced pistons rigid with, said i of levers joining said abut# tie partsfbeing so disposed,

fhausti'ng lburnt gasesfroml said explosion fchambersysubstan tially as described. i l0. In a gas eigine the vcombination of a pair of compre isionchambers; a pair of explosion chambers; communicating means between one of said compression chambers and one of said explosion chambers; communicating means between the other of the said compression chambers and the other of the said explosion chambers; a piston associated with each of said chambers, each of 'said pistons being angularly displaced withA regard to the others; and cemmunicating means between said elxplosion chambers, substantially as described. l i

11.` In a gas engine the combination of a pair oflcompression c ambers; a pair of explosion chambers; communicating means between one of said compression chambers and one of said explosion chambers; communi' eating-means between the other of the said compression chambers and the other of the said explosion chambers; said last named communicating means being angularly displaced With referencel to the said first named communicating means; a piston associated with each of said chambers,.each of said pistons being angularly displaced with regard to the others; and communicating means between said explosion chambers so positioned with respect to said other 4communicating means as to allow the passage of igniting gases from the chamber in which an explosion has taken placeto the chamber that has been filled with compressed fuel.

'12. In a gas engine the combination of a pair of duplicate compression chambers, a

.pair of duplicate explosion chambers; communicating means between one of said .sets of lcompression chambers-and one 'of sald sets ofexplosion chambers; communicatingmeansbetween the other of the said sets of compression chambers and the other Vo-lthe said sets ofexplosin chambers; a pistonassoeiated with each of said setsofchambers;

each` of said pistons being an'gn-,tarl fdisstator adapted to control said abutments in airs; and 1an/adjustable packing carried y said stator for each abutment substantially as described. l

14. In a gas engine the cmnbination of a stator provided with orifices and a plurality of lu s on its exterior; plates pivoted to said ugs; abutments passing through said orifices, carried by said plates and having associated therewith packed members adapted to contact with pistons; levers pivoted'to said stator adapted to control said abutments in pairs; and an adjustable packing carried by said stator for each abutment, substantially as described.

15. In a gas engine the combination of a stator provided with a plurality of lugs on its exterior; plates pivoted-to said lugs; abutments carried by said plates having associated therewith packed members adapted to contact with pistons; an adjustable packing carried by said stator 'for each vabutment; a port through said stator under each plate; means to convey fuel to certain of.

said ports; and means to carry away from' stantially as described.

rotor provided witha plurality of pistons;

tons; segmental rings fitting said recesses; and tapered means fitting between the segments of the rings to expand the latter, substantially as described.

17.' In a gas engine the combination `of a stator; arotor provided with a plurality of pistons; rlbs provided with packing'rings fitting the interior of said stator and with recesses between the pistons; segmental rino's fitting the interior of said stator and said recesses; and-tapered means carried by said stator fitting between the segments of the rings to expand the latter, substantially as described..

Intestimony whereof I aixmy signature,- in presence of two witnesses.

. LEO B. THOMAS.

Witnesses: RICHARD C. ADDY, BERNARD RING.I

the other of said ports the burntgases, sub- I ribs provided with recesses between the pis- 

